The Play Crawl 2023
directors bios
EARTH HISTORY TODAY BY REBECCA GORMAN O’nEILL
dARREN SMITH(director)
Darren has been involved with And Toto too since it’s inception in 2005, and has more than 30 years of experience both on-stage and in almost every capacity behind the scenes. Originally from Birmingham, England, he has made Denver Colorado his home for the last 25 years. Since 2016 he has directed more than 25 short films, garnering awards including nomination for Best Film at the London 48 Hour Film Project.
Summer Jobs by Nina alice miller
Susan lyles (Director)
Susan is an award winning director and producer and has directed more than 20 plays over the last 18 years with And Toto too. She currently serves as the Producing Artistic Director of Denver’s only theatre dedicated to the woman playwright. She is also the Producer of the award winning Ruff Ruff Dog Productions film company where she acts and occasionally writes.
THE bench of destiny BY EDITH WEISS
edith weiss (Director)
Edith Weiss, third person, loves the play crawl. She loves the actors that work for the love of it. She loves writing short pieces to an environment. Her youth theater plays, children's plays, and comedic murder mysteries have been performed in small theaters, colleges, and schools almost everywhere. Okay not in Antarctica. But (switching to first person) I'm working on that. And I love you the audience for supporting And Toto too.
brooks and fin-heaven knows i’m miserable now
by christie brenner winn
CHRIS MEDINA (Director)
Chris is grateful to be here! This is his second time participating in THE PLAY CRAWL! It really is one of his favorite theatre events in all of Colorado. He would like to show appreciation to his amazing wife and two beautiful daughters for letting him come play! He is looking forward to bringing more incredible theatre The Butte Theater in Cripple Creek for the rest of the year and beyond. He recently just opened THE STINKY CHEESE MAN, WE WILL ROCK YOU and THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST at The Butte (come see us!) Thanks for supporting And Toto too Theatre Company, they are one of my favorites!
larp will find a way by lisa wagner erickson
Maru Garcia (Director)
Maru has been acting and directing for over 30 years now. She has a Bachelor’s in Art from UNAM in Mexico City, specializing in directing. Maru has participated in more than 100 plays as actor and/or director. She has also had the opportunity to act in a few films and some TV. During her artistic career, she has had the opportunity to lead and manage Grupo Bochinche in Mexico City as Executive Producer and Artistic Director as well as The 73rd. Avenue Theatre Company in Westminster, CO. She currently serves as Executive Producer at Wheat Ridge Theatre Company. www.marugarciaactor.com
tourmeline by ellen k. graham
Jeremy Elman (Director)
Jeremy trained as a theatre director (Mountview Academy) in his native England and worked for a few years on the Fringe in London and Edinburgh mainly in new writing. He then moved into directing for TV, followed by starting his own successful social content production company. After an overly long break and a move from London to Denver, Jeremy is excited to get back into theater and become part of the Denver community.
i remember her by nicolette vajtay
abby apple boes (Director)
This is is Abby’s third time directing And Toto Too’s Play Crawl. Abby is an actor, singer, producer and director. Her directing credits include three short plays with And Toto Too, When We Were Young and Unafraid by Sarah Treem with Firehouse Theater and Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel at Benchmark Theatre. Abby just finished playing Gladys Calhoun in Memphis at Town Hall Arts Center and before that she was Jeannie in The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Miner’s Alley Playhouse. She is looking forward to more directing opportunities for the 23/24 season.
two men and a bralette by melissa lucero mccarl
kathi baerns (DIRECTOR)
Kathi is super excited to be a part of The Play Crawl again this year. It is her 9th year either acting or directing. I am also extremely thankful that it has found a new home and hope this marvelous event continues for many years to come. The fantastic writer and actors, the camaraderie and fun is always a highlight of the summer. She loves spreading her artistic wings, no character too bizarre and is currently available if any one needs a "sparkly old broad" for their cast or a voice artist for film or commercial work.
SEEING IS BELIEVING BY LESLIE C. LEWIS
peter dearth (DIRECTOR)
A Colorado native, Peter has had the privilege of working with some wonderful theatre makers from around the state. These include OpenStage, Bas Bleu, Fort Collins Children’s Theatre, Opera Fort Collins, Front Range Music Theatre, Canyon Concert Ballet, Ignite, Littleton Town Hall, Curious Theatre, Phamaly, Vintage, Opera Colorado, The Denver Center Theatre Company, and Denver Center Attractions. His work with these organizations encompasses performing, directing, producing, advising, and serving on boards of directors. Peter worked with And Toto too on the 2019 production of Show of Force, but this will be his first time directing and participating in the Play Crawl. Directing credits include Cherry Docs, The Fall of the House of Usher, And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens, The Laramie Project (Northern CO premier), Dreamgirls, Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, On the Rocks (regional premier by local award winning playwright Jeffrey Neuman), Godspell, Newsies and In The Heights. Peter is forever grateful to his fiancé, Darren, and his friends & family for their support. CSU B.A. Theatre and Direction.
PC CHICKEN BY LINDA BERRY
JULIE WOLF (DIRECTOR)
Julie loves being involved in the Play Crawl. Julie received her B.F.A. in Theatre from Emporia State University. She has been seen on stage as Lisa Kron-Well, Annie Sullivan-The Miracle Worker, Lenny McGrath-Crimes of the Heart, and Elizabeth Proctor-The Crucible, Blanche Dubois-A Street Car Named Desire, and Lady Macbeth-Macbeth to name a handful. Julie has also recently directed Pride & Prejudice by Kate Hamill at Firehouse Theater Company. She will be directing Dracula by Steven Dietz this fall for Firehouse. Jeff Jesmer, you’re my forever favorite. Love to our fur-babies. And thanks to you, the audience, for supporting live theatre.